[joemontes]

A statistical analysis posted on VT gives Stanford a 9% chance of being in the top 16 RPI at the end of the regular season.
I'm a little more optimistic than that.  And RPI isn't everything.  Even at 17 or 18, Stanford could well host the first two rounds.  The committee has been kind to Stanford in the past.

Beyond that, I don't expect to see them in the final four this year.

Well, honestly, that's what I predict, too.  They'll probably make it past the first week, but will be faced with the daunting prospect of beating Texas, Louisville, or Wisconsin in the Round of 16.

The thing is, this current young Stanford team, no matter how talented (3 Top 2 players, another 3 Top 5 players, and another Top 10 player coming out of HS) and how promising and vastly improving as we speak, does not seem to have that SENSE OF URGENCY yet this year, unlike those 2004 and 2016 championship teams who were willed by the strong desire for glorious exits for their respective senior leaders NNAMANI in 2004 and AJANAKU in 2016.  Their lone senior starter Holly CAMPBELL is probably already content with having been part of two consecutive national champions during her freshman and sophomore campaigns, and even moreso as a starting MB for both of those teams with illustrious achievements.

But in an interview, Caitie BAIRD talked about leaving their own legacy, and I believe that Stanford will be one of the top favorites to make  the Final Four and the national championship for the next two years, especially if Kendall KIPP decides to use her covid year for her 5th year during the 2023 season.

[joemontes]

A statistical analysis posted on VT gives Stanford a 9% chance of being in the top 16 RPI at the end of the regular season.
I'm a little more optimistic than that.  And RPI isn't everything.  Even at 17 or 18, Stanford could well host the first two rounds.  The committee has been kind to Stanford in the past.

Beyond that, I don't expect to see them in the final four this year.

Well, honestly, that's what I predict, too.  They'll probably make it past the first week, but will be faced with the daunting prospect of beating Texas, Louisville, or Wisconsin in the Round of 16.

The thing is, this current young Stanford team, no matter how talented (3 Top 2 players, another 3 Top 5 players, and another Top 10 player coming out of HS) and how promising and vastly improving as we speak, does not seem to have that SENSE OF URGENCY yet this year, unlike those 2004 and 2016 championship teams who were willed by the strong desire for glorious exits for their respective senior leaders NNAMANI in 2004 and AJANAKU in 2016.  Their lone senior starter Holly CAMPBELL is probably already content with having been part of two consecutive national champions during her freshman and sophomore campaigns, and even moreso as a starting MB for both of those teams with illustrious achievements.

But in an interview, Caitie BAIRD talked about leaving their own legacy, and I believe that Stanford will be one of the top favorites to make  the Final Four and the national championship for the next two years, especially if Kendall KIPP decides to use her covid year for her 5th year during the 2023 season.